Airbus Defence and Space can count another successful launch today of their SKY Brasil-1 telecommunications satellite constructed for AT&T/DIRECTV. SKY Brasil-1 is the 44th Eurostar E3000-based spacecraft built by Airbus Defence and Space and the second for DIRECTV.

With a mass at launch of 6000 kg and spacecraft power of 16 kW, SKY Brasil-1 has two deployable solar array wings and a number of deployable and non-deployable antennas. This was the 77th consecutive successful flight for Europe’s satellite launch vehicle from the space center at Kourou, French Guiana, on an Ariane 5 heavy lift rocket.

The spacecraft is 7.5m high and has a wing span 45m when the two solar array wings are deployed in orbit. SKY Brasil-1 has a double propulsion system: chemical for initial orbit raising and electric for keeping in station. It has been designed with a nominal lifetime of 15 years, and carries enough fuel for more than 20 years of in-orbit maneuvering.